New York, NY- Field & Stream debuted
its May "What's Next" issue Monday, featuring hunting celebrity and
TV host Eva Shockey on the cover. Shockey,
who stands with her trademark bow, is only the second woman ever to appear solo
in a photograph on the cover of the 119-year-old magazine. The "What's
Next" issue offers expert opinions on what the future holds for hunting
and fishing. Field & Stream's May issue is available on newsstands and on
the iPad this week.
Shockey, the costar of Jim Shockey's
Hunting Adventures on Outdoor Channel, offers her predictions on what the
future holds for hunting and the 3.35 million women currently participating in
the sport for an interview featured in the issue. Female hunters' ranks grew by
10 percent from 2008 to 2012, according to the National Shooting Sports
Foundation, and Shockey predicts the numbers will
continue to rise. She cites growth in sales to women at major retailers like
Bass Pro Shops and the number of media outlets highlighting hunting and women
in the outdoors as positive indicators. Shockey
thinks the increase will lead to another first in the near future: the
first-ever hunting show hosted exclusively by a woman.
"The steady and growing number of women who are becoming hunters is really
transformative for the outdoor sports," said Anthony Licata, editorial
director of Field & Stream. "As a spokeswoman for that change, Eva was
a clear choice for the cover of our 'What's Next' issue."
Shockey is only the second woman whose photograph has
appeared solo on the magazine's cover. The first was Queen Elizabeth, who was
featured with her hunting dogs in a January 1976 image, and there have been a
handful of women who appeared in groups with men on the cover. From the
magazine's launch in 1895 until 1972, the publication featured illustrated
covers, which frequently portrayed women, especially prior to the World Wars.
Once the magazine made the shift to photography, its cover focused primarily on
outdoor settings, wildlife, and hunting and fishing gear as opposed to people,
which is a theme that largely continues today. Editorially the magazine has
supported outdoorswomen with a series of regular columns and blogs, starting in
the 1890s and continuing today.
The May issue of Field & Stream also features a number of other
forward-looking predictions for the world of hunting and fishing, including
expected growth in another segment: urban hipsters, suburban locavores, homesteaders, and others who have come to care
where their food comes from-as outdoorsmen always have. These groups are flocking
to hunting, and the magazine predicts this trend will continue. On the
conservation front, Field & Stream editor-at-large Kirk Deeter
predicts that the potentially catastrophic Pebble Mine, proposed for Alaska's
Bristol Bay region, will die under pressure from citizens and the government,
marking a major win for outdoorsmen looking to protect the world's most
prolific wild salmon and trout fishery. An increase in the use of drones,
crossbows, and modern sporting rifles is also expected. The issue also details
100 new and most-improved hotspots for hunting and fishing in every state.
Field & Stream, The World's Leading Outdoor Magazine, is the country's
largest enthusiast title and most recognized outdoor publication. Devoted to
the complete outdoor experience and lifestyle, Field & Stream
(FieldandStream.com) gives its readers the knowledge and inspiration to pursue
the sports they love. It celebrates the outdoor experience with great stories,
compelling photography and sound advice, while honoring the traditions hunters
and fishermen have passed down for generations. Established in 1895, Field
& Stream is published 11 times per year by the Bonnier Corporation.
The Bonnier Corporation (bonniercorp.com) is one of the largest
consumer-publishing groups in America and the leading media company serving
passionate, highly engaged audiences through special-interest magazines and
related multimedia projects and events.
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